Chapter 9 - Rhiannon
Rhiannon pushed herself through the workout, sweat glistening on her skin as the rhythmic sound of her breathing filled the otherwise quiet gym. The state-of-the-art facility was impressive, but despite the luxury of the equipment and the space, she couldn't shake the feeling of being out of place. In the past few days since Adrian's manipulative proposal, she had done her best to avoid him in his home, spending as little time as possible in his presence.
As she practiced her kicks and punches, she found herself lost in thought, reminiscing about the days when she had a coach to guide her through her sessions and someone to spar with. The lack of interaction made her yearn for the camaraderie and competition she used to have at her regular gym. She was determined to resume her usual training there soon enough, but in the meantime, the solitude was weighing on her.
Living on her own had been quiet, but at least she'd had the freedom to escape outside whenever it became too much. It wasn't as easy to do that inside Adrian's home. Everywhere she went, she was forced to consider where he was, what he was doing, and where he was going—it was getting tiring.
Just as she was finishing her last round, she felt a shift in the air. Startled, she turned to find Adrian moving past her, his gaze fixed on the equipment as if he were about to train himself. She rolled her eyes, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. Really, of all the times he had to show up, it had to be now? She quickly redirected her focus, determined to ignore him.
"Need a partner, Princess?" he asked suddenly, breaking into her thoughts and challenging her as effortlessly as he always did.
She shot him a look of disbelief. "I don't think so."
The idea of sparring with him after everything felt ridiculous, but the truth was, a part of her found the notion inviting. He smirked, a glint of challenge lingering in his gaze as he looked her up and down.
"I don't see why not," he continued, slinging his gym bag over his shoulder. "I've seen you fight. It's pretty good. Besides, I figured we could both use the practice. Get rid of any lingering…" he trailed off on purpose, his mouth quirking into a grin. "tension."
Despite her annoyance, the allure of the challenge was enticing. Fighting with someone who could push her, really push her, exhilarated her in a way that her body craved. After several days of sharing a room together and many more interrupted or delayed orgasms, she was beyond frustrated. Before she could think better of it, she nodded. "Fine, but if I see you're taking it easy on me, then I'll make your life hell."
"I wouldn't dream of it," he purred, and the tension between them sparked as he joined her on the mat.
Shooting her a roguish grin, Adrian removed his gym shirt, and for a moment, the world around Rhiannon faded. Everything else—his charm, his audacity, and even their last conversation became forgotten. It was like she'd been drawn into a trance, one she'd easily blame on the lingering frustration she'd been feeling over the past few days, and her mouth watered.
Fuck me , she thought, this time with a little more clarity. Almost like she actually meant it, and with the way her pussy was throbbing, she actually might've.
"Don't tell me you're scared," Adrian taunted, his confidence radiating off him in waves. That cocky smile on his lips stirred an impulse deep within her, a desire to rattle him, to throw him off his game, and maybe if she was thinking a bit clearer, she'd know whether or not he was playing with her.
Maybe she might even have realized he was.
Instead, Rhiannon felt a smirk form on her own lips. "Scared? Please, I'm not the one who needs practice."
She stretched her body slightly, leaning in just enough so he'd notice her toned legs and the way her tank top hugged her curves. She'd worked damn hard for this physique, and if she wanted to show it off, then she fucking would.
He raised an eyebrow, catching her drift. "Is that so?"
She took a deep breath, knowing she could exploit the simmering heat between them. "Stop playing with me, Adrian," she said, pushing boredom into her tone as she started to circle him. "I thought we agreed you wouldn't."
It was pure speculation at that point, the boredom something she didn't even feel as they circled each other, both of them falling into their rhythm. Initially, the sparring session felt bland, as if they were both testing the waters. But gradually, the heat began to build, and the air grew thick with a mixture of exertion and unacknowledged tension.
He was good.
He was really good, and soon enough, Rhiannon felt her lungs heaving for breath. She had to catch him off guard. Do something that would give her a better chance at winning.
With that, she tossed her hair over her shoulder dramatically and launched into the next round of punches and kicks in an attempt to unbalance him. It seemed impossible. No matter what combination she used, he returned it with a casual ease that was bordering on swaggering.
The air was thick with challenge as they circled each other again, but Rhiannon was determined to spice it up. Drawing him in closer, she feigned a strike, then spun away, all the while gauging his reaction.
His eyes were glued to her, and she could see the momentary flicker of surprise on his face. That only fueled her confidence. "Come on, Adrian. Didn't you want a worthy opponent?" she teased, letting a playful laugh escape her lips.
He snorted but didn't take the bait. "I thought you said no games, Wife?"
That word always caught her off-guard, and it did then, but Rhiannon managed to save herself as she shot him a grin. "Game? No, Baby, this is sparring," she cooed, pushing her body forward as she lunged, aiming for his side. At the last moment, she pivoted and brushed against him, her hip pressed against his thigh in an accidental yet deliberate motion. She felt a jolt of electricity at the contact, and she could see he felt it too—the way his breath caught, his stance wavering ever so slightly.
"Nice try," he remarked, but there was a hint of breathlessness in his voice that told her she was getting under his skin. "But you'll have to do better than that."
"Oh, I will," she replied, her voice dripping with a playful inflection as she feigned another attack, pushing him back with a surprising burst of speed.
As they continued, Rhiannon's strategy unfolded like a plan that was all too intoxicating. She threw a few calculated kicks and feigned exhaustion, letting him think he had the upper hand. Each time she spun or ducked, she made sure to let their bodies brush against each other, letting the heat build with every contact. She could see the way his muscles tensed, how his breath hitched in his throat each time they came too close for comfort.
"Focus, Rhiannon!" he warned, frustration and desire wrestling in his expression.
"Oh, I am focused," she murmured, giving him a sultry smile as they locked eyes for a moment, heat pooling in the space between them. If he could play games like that day in the bathroom, then so would she. This was all a game, and she was determined to win.
Adrian lunged, and she narrowly avoided his grasp, twisting her body to sidestep him. It felt thrilling, the way they became entwined, their movements a dance fueled by passion and competition. But she could tell he was beginning to lose his composure; his breaths were more labored as she led him further out of his zone—a slight sheen of sweat had formed on his brow that only added to his allure.
"Come on, follow my lead," she hissed, her voice full of playful challenge.
As they continued to spar, her movements became bolder—she slipped out of his grip and twisted around, letting her body brush against his in a calculated move that made them both acutely aware of the heat thrumming between them. Rhiannon's heart raced, knowing she was playing a dangerous game, but she couldn't help herself. The rush of adrenaline was intoxicating, and the way he seemed almost enchanted by her antics only egged her on.
"Is that all you've got?" she teased, letting out a breathy laugh as she ducked under his arm again. "Come on, Adrian. I thought I was supposed to be the one working hard here. Aren't you the big bad wolf of the Bratva?" she purred, arching an elegant eyebrow. "The Pakhan's guard dog… I really expected more, Husband."
His jaw tightened in determination, and she could practically feel the shift in energy as he bore down on her. She sensed him drawing closer, but in a flash, she made her move. With a swift motion, she chose to play dirty once more, contorting her hips in a way that threw him off balance, almost as if she was humping him. Her pelvis brushed against his, and he was rock fucking hard. She hadn't been expecting that.
Blinking, she almost missed her chance, but he was too out of it to realize.
"Damn it, Rhiannon!" he groaned, barely able to keep his stance as she took advantage, pushing him backward until he lost ground.
She grinned triumphantly, reveling in her victory as she stepped away to catch her breath, grabbing her water bottle and feeling nothing short of victorious. But just as she turned to revel in her win, she quickly found herself confronted.
Adrian nudged her backward until she was cornered between him and the walls, and there was a dark, hungry look in his eyes as he stepped close enough that she could feel the heat radiating off him, his breath hot against her cheek.
"That was creative but dirty," he breathed, his voice low with a hint of amusement. The proximity had her heart racing, and she knew he could tell how affected she was.
Feigning ignorance, she shrugged, trying to keep her composure. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
The smirk on his face only aggravated him more. Without warning, he leaned in, blocking her in with his arms, the wall pressing against her back. One of his hands settled on her hip, and his thumb rubbed it softly, sending sparks shooting through her as she met his gaze with her own. The intensity pouring off of him left her breathless.
"Are you sure?" he asked softly, leaning closer toward her until all she could smell was that addictive scent of sweat and the soap that he preferred. "I know you were as turned on as I am. In fact, Baby, I'd bet everything I have that you're wet for me right now."
A rush of heat flooded her cheeks as she gathered all her strength, haughtily rejecting his claim. "No, absolutely not," she shot back, though her voice trembled just a little too much.
His eyes darkened further, and in a movement that left her stunned, he closed the distance and took her mouth, licking the seam of it until she gasped. Then he thrust his tongue in, swallowing her moan, tasting her. It was fierce and passionate, a collision of frustration and longing that quickly escalated into something primal as he stepped between her legs, the thick, hard length of him pressing against her soft belly.
All her defenses melted away, and for a moment, she melted against him, consumed by the intensity of the kiss, of him, as he pressed against her until there was no longer any space dividing them.
Soft moans slipped through her mouth and into his, and when he finally pulled away, a smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. "That's what I thought."
Before she could recover from the whirlwind of emotions, he added, "Come to my match tomorrow night."
Her heart raced, not just from the kiss but at the prospect of seeing him fight up close for the first time ever. The thrill of the upcoming match mixed with the remnants of their charged exchange, leaving her both excited and frustrated by the intoxicating mix of emotions. Damn it all, she had absolutely no idea how to navigate this fucking connection between them.
Rhiannon was still trying to catch her breath as she stared up at Adrian, a mix of defiance and desire swirling in her chest. The kiss had knocked her off balance, and she could still taste him on her lips—a sharp reminder of how easily he could disarm her. She didn't want to overthink it, didn't want to analyze the tingling warmth that still radiated through her, but it was there, building an exhilarating tension that she could almost reach out and touch.
"Tomorrow night, huh?" she said, trying to sound casual, even as her heart raced at the thought of seeing him fight. She would not let him see how much this excited her, how every part of her craved to be close to him, and how that kiss had stirred something deep inside her.
"Mhmm," he purred, dropping his mouth to hers again, and this time, his kisses were slow and languid, and when he left, she was tempted to pull him back to her again. "Tomorrow night."